r/CPTSD•
Rosecello

Anyone else grappling with wanting their CSA parent to validate their experience?

NSFWTrigger Warning: CSA (Child Sexual Abuse)

In therapy I've learned to "zoom out" and summarize what happened to me in a jaw dropping 1 liner so I can treat my experiences as the disturbing events that they are - so as not to let myself water it down with too many details, technicalities, guilt, shame, overthinking, confusion, etc.

So my (29F) zoom out points are: -Mom wouldn't stop touching my breasts or ass no matter how much I corrected her, struck out at her and had emotional breakdowns over it and still will to this day so I feel incredible fear whenever I'm bent over around her and don't allow touching from them ever

-Mom & Dad trafficked me to multiple adult & middle aged men long before I ever turned 18 and when I challenged this an adult, they said I wanted it

-Mom & Dad convinced the family my behavioral outbursts were because I was a bad kid, therefore I got regular talking-to's from extended family about being better for my parents, thus intensifying the isolation, guilt & manipulation

Is anyone else an adult & struggling with only allowing their CSA parents in their life because they wish they felt "allowed" to have this conclusion that they were sexually abused? Does anyone else want their parents to agree with them so they don't feel like they're making stuff up like their parents always said they did?

I don't understand why I feel like I'm not allowed to give myself the validation that I went through sexual abuse at the hands of my parents. I don't feel unsure, I feel not allowed. Even at 29 years old I fear my mom finding out and rewriting my story, disputing my truth and telling everyone it's all a lie. But the zoom out points make it pretty clear. I don't have to tell a story or convince anyone, a short synopsis shows a pretty gruesome truth. And still, I feel not allowed to consider them pedophiles/CSA abusers. Therapists agreeing with me does nothing for me. I've fully accepted the overaged men were pedophiles and CSA abusers, but in terms of my parents, I feel like when I finally accept that, it's me signing my "never had parents, never will" waiver. Am I alone here?

Posted Jan 4, 2026, 5:29 PM UTC

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